stevens



No Model.)

J. W. STEVBNS. PIANO ATTAGHMENT.

No. 559,227. Pateted Apr. 28, 1896.

INVENTOR 107272 %Mia/ena.

' ATTORNEY WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN XV. STEVENS, OF NEXV YORK, N. Y.

PIANO ATTACHMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 559,227, dated .April 28, 1896.

Application filed January l6,1896. Serial No. 575,'73'7. (No model.)

To all whom 't may concrn:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. STEvENs, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented newand useful Improvenents in Piano Attachments, of which the following is a specifieation.

The object of this invention is to provide simple and reliable means for producing varied tones on pianos; and the invention resides in. the novel features of Construction set forth in the following specification and clains and illustrated in the annexed drawings, in which- Figure lis a side elevation of a striker. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a striker. Fig. 3 shows a modification.

The strips 1 have hard strikers 2 at their free ends. The strikers could be set up close to the edge of the strips, but it is preferable to have such strikers somewhat clear or pendent from the ends of the strips, as a clearer tone is thus produced by the striker when Contacting with a string.

A convenientstructure is obtained by taking a hollow striker, running therethrough a string or wire or other suitable fastening 3, and securing said fastening to the strip, as at the eyes or eyelets 4:.

By slotting or notching the striker, as at 5, and running the wire or fastening through said slots the striker is held securely or steadily or kept in proper position, and wabbling or improper movement of the striker is prevented.

Hard hollow strikers can be readily obtaincd by taking such objects as metallic tubes,glass, or other beads, hard rubber tubes, or other suitably hard hollow or tubular bodies.

By making the strip 1 of non-resonant material-such, for example, as leather-the striker will be free to swing or strike as required, and its sound or action will not be interfered with by the strip, and the striker being left free or unfaeed will give a clear tone, which would be apt to be destroyed if the striker were faced or backed or inclosed by a softer substance-as, for example, the material of the strip 1.

The tongues l being suitably Secured, as to a rail G, which can be suitably moved or lowered, as by a pedal,said tongues can be brought within reach of hammers 7, which, striking or acting on the strips or tongues l clear of the strikers 2, will cause the latter to contact with strings S. By having the strips curved or concaved toward the strings, as at l', Fig. 3, the strikers 2, lying nearer to the strings, will contact with the latter without liability of the strips Contacting with the strings and produeing an objectionable sound.

The strips can be made to retain their curved or concaved shape in various waysas, for example, by forming the tongues in whole or in part of springy material, which will retain the curved shape and allow the tongues to swing or bend toward the strings, or by backing a soft leather strip with a suitably-curved spring, strip, or wire.

NVlat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a piano the combination with strings, of strips, and hard strikers at the free ends and outside the boundaries or edges of said strips substantially as described.

2. In a piano the combination With strings, of strips, hard strikers at the free ends and outside the boundaries or edges of said strips, and hammers to act on the strips clear of said strikers, substantially as described.

3. In a piano the conbination with strings, of strips, and hard strikers Suspended from the free ends of and clear of said strips sub stantially as described.

4. In a piano the combination with strings, of strips, and hard hollow strikers at the free ends and outside the boundaries or edges of said strips substantially as described.

5. In a piano the combination with strings, of strips, and hard hollow slotted strikers connected to the strips by wires or fastenings passed through said strikers and slots substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN W. STEVENS.

\Vitnesses D. W. SHAILER, W. O. HAUFF. 

